Robertsport, Grand Cape Mount County – The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and UN Women have reiterated their support for the Liberian government’s youth empowerment priorities. The two UN agencies’ commitment was reiterated during the successful validation of the new National Youth Policy and its Costed Implementation Plan for 2025–2029, which took place on May 5–6 in Robertsport, Grand Cape Mount County.
A significant outcome of the validation workshop was the adoption of the “Robertsport Youth Declaration,” signed by representatives of the three statutory youth groups—FLY, LINSU, and MRUYP. The declaration acknowledges the efforts of the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, development partners, and youth stakeholders in formulating and validating the National Youth Policy.
In the declaration, the youth representatives affirmed their collective commitment to national development, peace, and prosperity, and recommended that the thematic areas included in the Policy, among which Employment and Entrepreneurship, Health & Wellbeing, Education and Gender, be fully financed and implemented by the Government of Liberia and development partners, including the private sector. Led by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the activity drew the active participation of youth groups, including the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY), the Liberia National Student Union (LINSU), and the Mano River Union Youth Parliament (MRUYP), as well as YMCA Liberia.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Leonard Kamugisha, Deputy Representative and Officer-in-Charge of UNFPA Liberia, stressed that the new policy signifies a renewed collective commitment to the young people of Liberia, stating that it is more than just a document. He noted that the policy is rooted in the voices and experiences of youth across all 15 counties and reflects the diversity of Liberia’s young population in terms of gender, age, location, social status, beliefs, and abilities.
“Young people below 35 constitute 75 percent of Liberia’s population. If we are to unlock the full potential of this demographic dividend, we must invest in their education, health, economic opportunities, and leadership — and we must do so with urgency and equity,” Mr. Kamugisha emphasized.
Mr. Kamugisha pointed out that the policy’s theme, “Optimizing Transformational Change through Youth-led Innovation and Inclusive Participation,” rightly positions youth not as passive recipients but as “agents of change, partners in governance, and architects of their own futures.”
Ms. Comfort Lamptey, UN Women Liberia Representative, hailed the policy as “a strategic tool that strengthens Liberia’s development agenda and aligns with both national priorities and international frameworks, including the AU Youth Charter and the UN Youth Strategy.”
Ms. Lamptey praised Liberia’s leadership for embracing gender equality within the policy, pointing to the country’s ambition to be a Beijing+30 Trailblazer and its commitment to two priorities of the Action Agenda in particular: Ending Violence Against Women and Investing in Girls and Young Women. “UN Women is proud to have been a partner throughout the policy review process through the UN Peacebuilding Fund’s-Youth Promotion Initiative project, under the leadership of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and in close collaboration with UNFPA. Our role as UN Women was to ensure that the priorities and lived realities of young women, particularly those from marginalized communities, are reflected and visible in the final policy and action plan, ” Ms. Lamptey said.
The revised National Youth Policy prioritizes several key areas, including:
• Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)
• Education, TVET, and digital inclusion
• Youth employment and entrepreneurship
• Mental health and well-being
• Youth participation in governance and peacebuilding
• Climate action and gender inclusion
Both UN agencies applauded the inclusive nature of the policy development process, noting the active engagement of youth, civil society, and marginalized groups, including persons with disabilities.
Meanwhile, UNFPA and UN Women have commended the Ministry of Youth and Sports for its leadership and reiterated the importance of ensuring that the momentum of validation translates into real, accountable implementation, as policies alone do not change lives — implementation does.
The development of the national youth policy was undertaken with funding from the UN Peacebuilding Fund, with technical support from UNFPA and UN Women, to facilitate the government’s plans to address the needs and aspirations of young people in Liberia. The joint support from UNFPA and UN Women underscores the UN’s broader commitment to the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, and to creating a future in which every young person in Liberia can dream freely, live healthily, work productively, and lead boldly.
